Restaurants in Christchurch

“Speights went out of their way to make a triple birthday dinner super special for my sons. They allowed us to go in earlier and set up decorations and put the 3 cakes in the chiller. They supplied little plates and napkins for them to be served on after dinner Although there was close to 30 people eating the waitress had it all under control and the meals came to the table quickly and all the meals were delicious, with generous sizes.”

“Roast pork and apple was one of the best I've ever had in over 60 years of sampling. Plenty of meat and plenty of apple in a great pastry. Went back and bought a frozen one to take home to Nelson”

“My hubby and I really enjoyed our delicious entree and mains this evening. My calamari was so tender and the beef cheeks were deliciously melt in the mouth. So great to have this lovely restaurant in our neighbourhood. We will be back.”

“We stumbled across this place looking for a meal. It didn't disappoint. The food was truly amazing with a delicious green curry and chicken fried rice. To top off the evening we also had a live duo playing music and singing songs we all enjoyed. Great place great service great atmosphere.”

“CAFE KUDOS - 235 Annex Rd. Just had an amazing meal at Kudos. It was delicious & generous serving. I couldnt eat it all. Amazing latte too. We used first table but worth the full price. Pleasant place witb a nice outdoor sitting area.”

“I just wanted a bottle of wine.”

“Fantastic portions! And an amazing first experience to New Zealand! I had no idea the coffee in this country was so good!”

“The Famous Grouse Hotel NZ offers comfortable rooms, friendly staff, lively bar, convenient location, and good value, though breakfast options are limited.”

“We loved it! Dutch pancakes so yummy. Coffee delicious and staff super friendly. Great atmosphere. And we can bring our little dog. Nice outdoor seating. We will make this Cafe our regular Saturday breakfast place!”

“Although the choices of Malaysia food is limited, they are good. Best Malaysian food in Christchurch (in my opinion)”

“Nice place and delicious food, coffee is one of the most delicious.”

“Great bakery, plenty of options of good food and cakes. Friendly service. Parking from 10am onward can be really tight due to popularity of café. Great for catering for big morning teas.”

“Delicious food, great for kids or adults. Lots of nice fresh salads. Salsas are really good too. Friendly staff.”

“Hell Pizza Shirley is great — the pizzas are always hot, fresh, and full of flavor. We often recommend them to our guests when they’re after a good local pizza option.”

“Nick is the best worker. He made us feel so welcome. After a long night out, he was so kind. The rest of the staff was so nice and so friendly. They even gave us some complimentary garlic knots. If I could give them a 10 stars I would! So appreciative of the work they do here! ”

“I was really really pleased with the quality of the meals and the excellent service at this little side street restaurant on Riccarton Road. We began with bhajee, which was light, soft, and served as an excellent appetiser. The freshness was apparent, and the portion size was generous, comfortably enough for three people. The presentation was appealing and added to the overall positive impression. Next, the lamb seekh kebab was beautifully presented and extremely tender, pulling apart effortlessly. The flavours were enjoyable and the medium spice was perfect for a wee bit of a kick. A highlight of the evening was the lamb vindaloo. The spice was well-absorbed into the lamb, which was firm yet tender. The vibrant colours and earthy flavours made this dish feel hearty and authentic. For a lighter contrast, the chicken saag delivered a smooth and clean flavour. The chicken was wonderfully tender, practically falling apart, and the dish’s subtler colour allowed the flavours to shine without being visually overwhelming. The garlic naan was another success, with a soft, chewy texture that paired perfectly with the mains, serving as an excellent accompaniment to the sauces. The beer was served in particularly excellent mugs, adding a touch of quality to the dining experience. The restaurant itself exudes a comfortable, home-like atmosphere, though the decor could benefit from some enhancement. Service was attentive, with plates promptly cleared after each course. Additionally, the kitchenware, glasses, and silverware were all clean and suited the environment appropriately. Arjee Bhajee offers a solid dining experience, particularly if you enjoy lamb dishes. However, be prepared for some dishes to be priced on the higher side, though it might be fitting for the excellent quality of the dishes. Nevertheless, it is a place worth considering for a relaxed evening with quality food.”

“Two fat Indians is a nice restaurant in the heart of Christchurch city. The good thing is that it had authentic desi taste and not sweety taste in dishes we tried. We had Chicken Malayi tikka that was awesome (although quantity is small for price). The lamb shank Nihari was also very good (a bit salty but tasty) and meat was tender. Seating place is good and service is also good. Recommend if you love desi food and taste.”

“Delicious curries, large sizes, good protein portions, we found the spice level on the higher end of the scale”

“I have tried alot of Indian restaurants over the years hands down the best cheezy garlic naan I've had most places you can't taste the cheese butter chicken was great to staff were very polite I will be a returning customer Thanks guys and gals”

“An unreserved 5 out of 5 when taking into account quality and value. Naan breads are huge, Tandoor Chicken was fantastic, and the several curries I've tried were delicious. Underrated hidden gem. 2023 edit: still fantastic even though prices marginally up. Can’t go past the ‘Old Fashioned Lamb Curry’….seriously, it’s really good; even if the vege constituents vary and the name doesn’t tally with swanky fare. The naan’s are still the biggest and most legit you’ll find from any Indian takeaway. Would love to see what tandoor they’re rocking back there! Do yourself a favour and visit these guys. 2024 edit: yup, still the best. Little more spensey, but that reflects the general situation everywhere. Two old fashioneds with rice, some bhajis, a tandoor chicken, a couple of naans……you’ll eat like a maharaja for going on four days or more. Best naans ever. 2025 edit: Absolutely hands down the best. The old-fashioned lamb curry cannot be beat, and must be the signature dish in my opinion. Roiling away for days on end, random bits and pieces added as some sort of eternal curry; vegetable components changing but flavour evolving. Naans giant. Tandoor chicken epic. Eat for days. Ignore the 1-star review casuals.”

“Fully enjoyed my stir fry noodles here — great flavor, fresh ingredients, and perfectly cooked! Definitely coming back again.”

“We started our trip in South Island, New Zealand by having dinner in here. During our 2 weeks trip, this is the best Thai restaurant we ever had. Before we fly back to our home, we finished our trip by having another dinner. Red curry fish and sweet chilly fish are very recommended as well as the Tom yum soup. The staffs are very kind.”

“Came into dinner for our mums 60th, and the food was immaculate. Fresh, hot, big plates, very flavoursome, good amount of veggies, well presented. Service was great and people in the kitchen are very nice. Support local guys, you won’t be disappointed!!”

“I eat here at least once a week. I’m a real big supporter of Thai food and I must say the food is absolutely delicious, it’s well priced and the customer service is absolutely first class.”

“Got Thai hot lamb chef special. Was Beautiful dish full of meat and vegetables and a great sauce with heat. Also got the Curry Puffs and they were also very good.”

“High quality very nice. Good service, clean area, kind staff, excellent food, fast serving times. Definitely recommend this place to eat at. We had a completely vegan dinner and it was beyond good — great noodles, and HIGHLY recommend getting the green curry.”

“Very delicious food, after looking for an authentic Turkish restaurant we finally landed on one that was very much tasty. Would highly recommend people to go here, friendly chef, clean and spacious area. Definitely worth your money. By far best food we have had in Christchurch since coming here for a Holiday.”

“Loved this place. Lovely views across the river, great food, good service and good selection of brews. Had the lamb rack and market fish and both were excellent.”

“Wow my option was the falafel burger combo... boy oh boy was my dinner and save some for midnight snack... This falafel mix is beautiful so tasty - I am a meat lover but I was dying to find somewhere who can do it well $24 at the time of my visit for burger, decent amount of chips and a drink - not a very long wait and service was quick and friendly...I am very happy I'll be back to try more”